TY - JOUR
T1 - Upper limb spasticity reduction following active training
T2 - A robot-mediated study in patients with chronic hemiparesis
AU - Posteraro, Federico
AU - Mazzoleni, Stefano
AU - Aliboni, Sara
AU - Cesqui, Benedetta
AU - Battaglia, Alessandro
AU - Carrozza, Maria Chiara
AU - Dario, Paolo
AU - Micera, Silvestra
PY - 2010/3
Y1 - 2010/3
N2 - Objective: To compare the effects on spasticity of 2 robotmediated therapies in patients with chronic hemiparesis. Design: Groups comparison. Subjects: Thirty-four patients, divided into 2 homogeneous groups. Methods: Outcome measures were: motor status score, Modified Ashworth scale, and range of motion. A pattern of reaching exercises was implemented, in which the direction and length of the movements were modified with the aim of reducing activity of the flexor muscles and improving extension of the arm. A 3-month follow-up was performed. Results: Statistically significant improvements were found in both groups after treatment. Some differences were found in elbow motor improvement between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Comparison between groups confirms that active movement training does not result in increased hypertonia, but results in spasticity reduction in antagonist muscles by activating the reciprocal inhibition mechanism. Furthermore, robot-mediated therapy contributes to a decrease in motor impairment of the upper limbs in subjects with chronic hemiparesis, resulting in a reduction in shoulder pain.
AB - Objective: To compare the effects on spasticity of 2 robotmediated therapies in patients with chronic hemiparesis. Design: Groups comparison. Subjects: Thirty-four patients, divided into 2 homogeneous groups. Methods: Outcome measures were: motor status score, Modified Ashworth scale, and range of motion. A pattern of reaching exercises was implemented, in which the direction and length of the movements were modified with the aim of reducing activity of the flexor muscles and improving extension of the arm. A 3-month follow-up was performed. Results: Statistically significant improvements were found in both groups after treatment. Some differences were found in elbow motor improvement between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Comparison between groups confirms that active movement training does not result in increased hypertonia, but results in spasticity reduction in antagonist muscles by activating the reciprocal inhibition mechanism. Furthermore, robot-mediated therapy contributes to a decrease in motor impairment of the upper limbs in subjects with chronic hemiparesis, resulting in a reduction in shoulder pain.
KW - Rehabilitation
KW - Robot-mediated therapy
KW - Upper limb
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U2 - 10.2340/16501977-0500
DO - 10.2340/16501977-0500
M3 - Article
C2 - 20411224
AN - SCOPUS:77950143340
VL - 42
SP - 279
EP - 281
JO - Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
JF - Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
SN - 1650-1977
IS - 3
ER -